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  • Supporting information

Supporting information

This section goes into more detail on the data behind the report. SEPA gathers rainfall and river flow data from hundreds of sites across Scotland. We have a dedicated team of staff who do this work. We also monitor groundwater and loch levels and use soil moisture data from the Met Office. We compare the current conditions against the long-term values to see how dry (or wet) it has been.

Rainfall and river flows

The maps below show SEPA’s monitored river flows (left) and rainfall (right) over autumn relative to the long-term average for this time of year.

There has been below average rainfall (quite dry [yellow] to extremely dry [red]) across much of Scotland which is reflected in low (orange) to extremely low (red) river flows across the autumn period. The Moray coast experienced more normal (green) rainfall and flow conditions. Flows are also generally normal to quite low in the far southeast. 

Map of Scotland showing river flows from each monitoring station, over autumn, relative to the long-term average for this time of year. The river flows map show low to extremely low across much of the country. Flows along parts of the Moray coast and far south-east are normal to quite low.

Map of Scotland showing river flows from each monitoring station, relative to the long-term average, for this time of year over 90 days.

Maps of Scotland showing rainfall from each monitoring station, over autumn, relative to the long-term average for this time of year. The rainfall map (right) shows dry to extremely dry for most of the country. There are some stations along the Moray Coast and far North-west that have normal to quite dry conditions.

Map of Scotland showing rainfall from each monitoring station, relative to the long-term average, for this time of year over 90 days.

Soil moisture

Soil moisture deficit is obtained from the Met Office Rainfall and Evaporation Calculation System (MORECS).  There is currently no soil moisture deficit across the country apart from the Firth of Tay catchment, which has Quite Dry ground conditions, likely due to below average rainfall since June. It is extremely unusual for soil conditions to remain this dry into winter, with only a handful of times noted in the historic record.

Natural water storage

In each river catchment there is some degree of natural water storage, which can maintain river flows even when it is not raining. This natural water storage is mainly held in lochs and groundwater. When storage has been depleted it will take a lot of rainfall for levels to recover. 

The maps below show recent groundwater and loch level compared to the long-term record at each individual station. Level is reported as high or low compared to the typical (‘normal’) level range for the time of year. Level ranges are specific to each station and based on the long-term (minimum 10 years) record of mean monthly level values recorded at individual stations.

Groundwater levels

Groundwater levels are generally normal (light-green). Groundwater levels can be impacted by a number of factors including rainfall, soil/rock type and proximity to a watercourse.

To the south of the country and as far north as Fife levels are mostly normal to low (orange). Levels in Aberdeenshire remain low which is consistent with the lower than average rainfall over Autumn in this region. In the Highlands groundwater levels are mostly normal to high (blue). There is some localised variation in Tain, with slightly lower than average levels recorded in one location. There is also localised variation in Angus. 

A map of Scotland showing how the mean monthly groundwater level for November compares to the long-term record at each individual station. The points on the map show that levels are generally Very High to Quite Low in the north of the country. In south, levels are generally Normal, with some area in Fife and Angus showing as High and Very Low.

A map of Scotland showing how the mean monthly groundwater level for November compares to the long-term record at each individual station.

Loch levels

Loch levels in west of the country are broadly within the typical range (light-green) for this time of year.  A couple of locations in central Scotland are now very low (dark-orange) while in the far north, one location is low (orange) for the time of year following a relatively dry autumn. 

A map of Scotland showing how the mean monthly loch level for November compares to the long-term record at each individual station. The points on the map show that levels are generally Normal in the west. A couple of locations in central Scotland are now very low while in the far north, one location is low for the time of year following a relatively dry autumn.

A map of Scotland showing how the mean monthly loch level for November compares to the long-term record at each individual station.

Flow, rainfall and groundwater data are accessed via SEPA’s time series data service (API). SEPA's live data are subject to ongoing quality control and periodic review.